The two following posts relate, in some degree, to Edgar Parnell’s email message, which is heard with the respect due to his wide experience and commitment to the co-operative movement.

“If we can achieve a much wider understanding of the member-controlled enterprise model, then members should be in a much stronger position to take back control.

“The proposed new Co-operatives Act could provide the opportunity to strengthen member-control. However, the danger is because the people holding the purse strings for the legal advisers on behalf of co-ops & mutuals are the professional managers, and they will be looking to simply allow for bigger and bigger co-ops that can pay bigger and bigger salaries.

“We have a really big lobbying job to do to make sure that the outcome of any legal changes is to strengthen member-control.”